Automatic container tie



June 4, 1963 K. w.TANT1 1NGER ET Ax. 3,092,282

AUTOMATIC CONTAINER TIE Filed Aug. 2l, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9? QJ o in i/ 1./

1 N V N TORJ June 4, 1963 K. w.TANTl 1NGER ET Ax. 3,092,282

AUTOMATIC CONTAINER TIE:

Filed Aug. 21, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff di," G

O j d MBE!!! l l A;

[F M 677; L.,

June 4, 1963 K. w.TANT| 1NGER ETAL 3,092,282

AUTOMATIC CONTAINER TIE Filed Aug. 21, 1961 3 sheets-sheet s United States Patent O 3,092,282 AUTGMATIC CONTAINER TIE Keith W. Tantlinger, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Richard T. Fujicka, Oxford, Mich., assignors to Fruehauf Trailer Company, Betroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 132,619 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-1.5)

This invention relates generally to freight handling apparatus and more particularly to automatic container ties for coupling shipping containers in abutting relationship.

It is often desired to couple .two or more shipping containers together to form a structurally independent `assembly that accepts, for example, a lifth Wheel of a conventional tractor at one end and la conventional wheel suspension at the other end. Such a container assembly and the application thereof to the aforementioned mode of transportation is fully disclosed in Iapplication Serial No. 112,635, tiled M-ay 25, 1961, for: Shipping Apparatus and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Often, such Ia pair of shipping containers must be coupled =or uncoupled in the field without the use of auxiliary handling equipment. Preferably, the coupling and uncoupling operation can be accomplished by the tractordriver working alone and in such -a manner that the operation is positive yet completely safe.

The present invention provides for automatic coupling of a pair of shipping containers thereby -to .form =a substantially rigid structural unit. Coupling and subsequent uncoupling are accomplished without requiring auxiliary equipment by novel ties that `are easily conditioned for coupling or uncoupling. In addition, positive locking and safety mechanisms are Iautomatically engaged to insure the integrity of the coupled assembly.

According, one object of the present invention is an improved automatic container tie.

Another object is lan automatic container tie for transferring load between a pair 'of shipping containers.

Another object is `a container tie that is positively engageable upon movement of la pair of shipping containers into abutting relationship with one another.

Another object is an automatic container tie that is en-gageable o-r disengageable from la pair of shipping ycontainers without requiring auxiliary handling equipment.

Another object is an automatic container tie having integral locking means.

Another `object is an automatic container tie that can be preconditioned for automatic movement to the locking or unlocking condition. Y

Another object is a container tie having an `automatically lockable safety means for maintaining `the container tie in the locked condition.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, claims `and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is aside elevational view of a pair of shipping containers in rigid coupled relationship supported by the tiith wheel of a tractor and -by a conventional tandem wheel suspension;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of lan upper container tie taken within the circle "2 of FIGURE l;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the container tie in the ready-to-couple condition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the container tie in the stored condition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a lower container tie taken within the circle 5 of FIGURE l;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the lower container tie in the ready-to-uncouple condition; and

Mice

FiG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 5 with the container tie in the readyto-couple condi-tion.

Referring to FIGURE l, a pair of shipping containers 2i) and 21 4are coupled in abutting relationship by upper and lower container ties generally designated by the numerals 22 and 24, respectively. 'Ihe coupled containers 20 and 21 are vsupported at lone end by a conventional tth wheel 26 of a tractor 28 and at the other end by a conventional tandem wheel suspension 36.

As more particularly pointed tout in the aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 112,635 assigned to lthe assignee of the present invention, the containers 20 'and 21 are provided with a pair of pins 32 and 33, respectively (FIG. 2), that extend laterally outwardly from a pair of recessed faces 34 and 35 ron the opposed upper corners thereof. This disposition `of the pins 32 and 33, in combination with the automatic container ties 22 and 24 of the instant invention, renders automatic coupling and uncoupling yof the containers 20 and 21 relatively easy.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper container tie 22 comprises a coupling arm 40 having an aperture 42 therein for the acceptance 'of the pin 32 on the `container Ztl. The fpin 32 is provided with an annular groove 44 therein, las is more particularly disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, for the acceptance of a pin 50 on the arm 40. The pin 50 is engageable within the groove 44 to preclude movement 'of the arm 40 axially w-ith respect to the pin 32. The arm 40 is freely rotatable about rthe pin 32 to the stored, ready-tocouple, and coupled positions, .as will be described.

The coupling arm 4t) has la reentrantly directed or gooseneck portion S2 thereon for engagement about the pin 33 on the adjacent container 21 when the containers 2li and 21 are in the `abutting condiiton shown in FIG- URE l. rI'he arm 40 has `a downwardly depending portion 56 for the support of a rotatable locking dog 53 which is secured thereto as by a pin 60. As best seen in FIG. 3, the dog 58 is normally biased clockwise to the locked position as by a spring 62. Clockwise rot-ation of the dog 58 is restrained by engagement of an end portion 64. :thereof with an abutment 66 on the depending portion 56 of the arm 4i). The dog 58 precludes oounterolockwise rotation of the :arm 4) with respect to its supporting pin 32, or, in other words, precludc spurious disengagement of the container tie 22 from the pin 33 on the container 21, when the container tie 22 is in the coupled position shown in FIG. 2. `Counterclockwise .rotation of -the dog SS, which is eected by simply pushing upwardly on the dog 5S as by a rod 7i?, conditions the arm 46 for counterclockwise rotation about the pin 32. Thus, the container tie 22 is disengageable. trom the pin 33 on the container 21 by simply pushing upwardly on the dog 58 with the rod 7 (l thereby rotating the arm 40 oounterclockwise about the pin 32 whereupon th-e container tie 22 is movable to the sto-red condition shown in FIG. 4.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the container tie 22 is indexed to the ready-to-couple condition by a latch ySi) that is pivotally supported on a pin 82 that extends through a downwardly extending portion 34 of the container tie 22. The latch has a latching surface 86 that is engageable with an end face 9i) of the container 2G. A cam lever 169 is pivotally supported by the latch Sil on a pin 192, a lower edge face 14 of the -lever 100 being slidable on the corner of the container 29.

As the container 21 moves toward the 4container 2i) due to, for example, backing of the tractor 28 and container 2t) against the container 21, the container 21 engages an outer end face y106 of the `cam 190. This `biases the latch 80 counterclockwise about the pin 82, retracting the latching surface 86 of the latch 8G' from engagement with the end face 90 of the container 20 permitting the arm 40 of the container tie 22 to move clockwise so that the gooseneck portion 52 thereof engages about the pin 33. It is to be noted that movement of the arm40 to the lock condition is positive, due to a clockwise impulse torque applied thereto upon impact of the cam 100 with the container 21 as it moves into position. The 'arm 40 also moves to the lock condition due to gravity. It is also to lbe noted that, as the armv 40 of the container tie 22 lmoves downwardly after release of the latching surface 86, Ithe dog 58 is rst biased counter- Vclockwise about the pin 60, upon engagement thereof with the pin 33, permitting the .gooseneck 52 to engage about the pin 33. Subsequently, the dog 5S is biased vclockwise about the pin 60 by the spring 62 to the ylocked condition shown in FIG. 2.

As discussed in the aforementioned application, the

containers and 21 are provided with vpins 200 and 201,v

respectively (FIG. 5), at the lower corners thereof. that extend transversely of -a pai-r of recessed faces 202 and 203 on the containers 20 and 21. The pins 200 and 210 accept a pair of engageable jaws 204 and 206 which comprise the lower container tie 24. r[The jaw 204 has an aperture 208 for the acceptance of the pin 200. The jaw 204 also has athreaded aperture 210 for the acceptance of a Vlocking screw 212 that is engageable with the pin 200 to lock the jaw 204 thereon at a desired rotative position with respect to the pin 200. The screw 212 also precludes axial movement of the jaw 204 ot the pin 200.

The jaw 204 has a gooseneck portion 214 with a latching surface 216 thereon for engagement with a complementary latching surfaceV 218 on a gooseneck portion 220 of the jawV 206.

The jaw 206 is essentially similar in construction to the jaw 204 and has an aperture `222 for the acceptance of the pin 2011 on the container 21 so as to be rotatable thereabout. The jaw 206 is restnained from axial movement'with respect to the pin 201 by a slidabtle pin 230 that is supported ink a complementary bore 232 in the jaw 206 and is acceptablein an annular groove 233 in the pin 201.V

The pin 230 serves -a dual function, as will be described.

A function-control lever 240 is pivotally secured to the jaw 206 as by a pin 242 that i-s threadably engaged in a complementary bore 244. A tensioned spring 246 is secured at one end 247 to an end portion 248 of t-he lever 240 and at the other end 249 to the container 21 as by a bolt 250. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, the spring 246 is conditioned to bias the jaw 206 counterclockw-ise about the pin 201. Rotation of the lever 240 about the screw 242 to the position shown in FIG. 6, changes the line `of -action of the spring 246 with respect to the axis of the pin 201 so as to bias the jaw 206 clockwise with respect thereto.

A locking block 260 is pivotally secured to the jaw 206 as by a pin 262 that is threadably engaged in 4a comple- Vmentary bore 264 in the jaW 206. V'I'he block 260 is normallyindexed to the locked position shown in FIG. 5,

by a'ball detent 266 that is engageable in a complementary recess 268 in the jaw 206. Rotation of the block 260 to the position shown in lFIG. 6 conditions the jaw 206 for clockwise rotation under the bias of the Vspring 246, as will be described.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the jaw 206 is conditioned forV counterclockwise' rotation about the pin 201 into engagement with the jaw 204 by advancement of the pin 230 so that a head portion 270 thereof is engageable under a stud 272. In this condition, anouter end portion 274 of :the pin 230 extends relatively farther out of the supporting bore 232V in the jaw 206 so that, as the containers 20 and 21 move toward one another, VIthe 'enfd portion 274 engages the gooseneck portion 214 of the jaw 204, whereuponthe pin 230 is biased to the light, yas seen in FIG. 7. Upon movement of the head portion 270I of the pin 230 out from under the stud 272, theY jaw 206 moves coun- Vterclockwise under the bias of the spring 246. Counterclockwise rotation oftheY jaw 206 brings the latching sur- -other of the pins for releasing said latch to permitsaid= face 218 thereof into engagement with the latching surface 216 of the jaw 204 to couple the containers 20 and 21 into -a substantially rigid unit. After the jaw 206 has moved into engagement with the jaw 204, the locking block 260 is rotated from the position shown in FIGS. 6 :and 7 to the position shown in PIG. 5, thus precludiug clockwise rotation of the jaw 206 and spurious uncoupling of the container tie 24.

To condition the container tie 24 for uncoupling, the lever 240 and block 260 ane rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6.

Upon movement ofthe containers 20 and'21 toward one another, which is accomplished as by locking the brakes on t-he tandem `suspension 30 and backing the tractor 28 and container `20 toward the container 21, the latching surfaces 216 and 218 are separated slightly, allowing the jaw 206 to rotate clockwise under the bias of the spring 246 to effect luncoupling of the containerV tie 24.

Thus, it will be seen that the container tie 24 can be conditioned for coupling or uncoupling, which operation can be elected solely by the tractor-driver by moving the containers 20 and 2:1 toward one another.

It is to be understood that the specic construction of the improved automatic container tie herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.y

What is claimed is:

l. In a shipping apparatusV comprising a pair of juxtaposed shipping containers having spaced parallel pins thereon, means for coupling the containers in said juxtaposed relationship comprising lan arm rotatably coupled to one of the pins and having an end portion engageable` otherof the pins for releasing said latch to permit saidV arm to move into engagement with the other of the pins.

2. In a shipping lapparatus comprising a pair of juxtaposed s'hipping containers having spaced parallel pins thereon, means for coupling the containers in -said juxtaposed relationship comprising an arm rotatably coupled to one of the pins and having an end portion engageable Y with the other of the pins to preclude relative movement of the pins away from each other in a direction generally normal Vto the axis thereof, a locking dog, resilient means for normallybiasing said dog to the locked position, -said dog being automatically movable to the unlocked condi-l tion upon movement of said arm toward engagement with the other of said pins and automatically movable' to the locked condition upon engagement of saidl arm with the other of said pins, and means on said arm for conditioning 'the end portion of said arm for automatic engagement with the other of said pins comprising a latch engageable with the container supporting saidv one pin `for holding said arm in a ready-to-couple condition and cam meansengageable with the container having'thel arm to move into engagement with the other of the pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schumacher July l, 1958 

1. IN A SHIPPING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF JUXTAPOSED SHIPPING CONTAINERS HAVING SPACED PARALLEL PINS THEREON, MEANS FOR COUPLING THE CONTAINERS IN SAID JUXTAPOSED RELATIONSHIP COMPRISING AN ARM ROTATABLY COUPLED TO ONE OF THE PINS AND HAVING AN END PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OTHER OF THE PINS TO PRECLUDE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE PINS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY NORMAL TO THE AXIS THEREOF, AND MEANS ON SAID ARMS FOR CONDITIONING THE END PORTION OF SAID ARM FOR AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER OF SAID PINS COMPRISING A LATCH FOR HOLDING SAID ARM IN A READY-TO-COUPLE CONDITION AND CAM MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CONTAINER HAVING THE OTHER OF THE PINS FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH TO PERMIT SAID ARM TO MOVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER OF THE PINS. 